Comments for WEALTH STRONG - Transforming the Way You Look, Act and Feel About Money http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:05:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on PARTNERSHIP PLANS FOR LONG TERM CARE by Scott Olson http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/partnership-plans-for-long-term-care/#comment-285 Scott Olson Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:05:17 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/partnership-plans-for-long-term-care/#comment-285 Long Term Care Partnerships are a brilliant idea. The result is that fewer Baby Boomers will have to rely on Medicaid to pay for their long term care services. The Medicaid budget will not overwhelm taxpayers and Medicaid will be protected for the truly needy. Those purchasing long term care insurance Partnership policies will have more choices for their care. Additionally, the assets and retirement savings of the policy owner will be protected from nursing home and other types of long term care expenses. This will increase the financial security of the healthy spouses ("community spouses") as well as protecting assets for their children and heirs. It is difficult enough to deal with the emotional burden when a spouse or family member needs long term care. Long Term Care Partnership policies help to alleviate much of the financial burden as well. Four states have successfully run LTC Partnership programs for years, namely, California, Connecticut, Indiana and New York. Other states have recently passed similar legislation including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin. Scott A. Olson <a href="http://www.LTCInsuranceShopper.com" rel="nofollow">www.LTCInsuranceShopper.com</a> Long Term Care Partnerships are a brilliant idea. The result is that fewer Baby Boomers will have to rely on Medicaid to pay for their long term care services. The Medicaid budget will not overwhelm taxpayers and Medicaid will be protected for the truly needy.

Those purchasing long term care insurance Partnership policies will have more choices for their care. Additionally, the assets and retirement savings of the policy owner will be protected from nursing home and other types of long term care expenses. This will increase the financial security of the healthy spouses (“community spouses”) as well as protecting assets for their children and heirs.

It is difficult enough to deal with the emotional burden when a spouse or family member needs long term care. Long Term Care Partnership policies help to alleviate much of the financial burden as well.

Four states have successfully run LTC Partnership programs for years, namely, California, Connecticut, Indiana and New York.

Other states have recently passed similar legislation including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin.

Scott A. Olson
http://www.LTCInsuranceShopper.com

]]> Comment on Recessions, depressions, deflation, inflation by bevans623 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/recessions-depressions-deflation-inflation/#comment-283 bevans623 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:22:46 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/?p=325#comment-283 Good quick definitions. I think it would be good to show your views on how these terms relate to the current crisis. My big problem is that we keep hearing about deflation and how it is debilitating, but our "consumer deflation" right now is 100% tied to the decline in energy costs. Also, there is a difference between consumer prices and core prices. Consumer prices are a basket of products, while core prices are that same basket, minus food and energy costs, which are excluded because they are volatile. Today, it was reported how consumer prices dropped by the most in decades, but core prices remained flat. Good quick definitions. I think it would be good to show your views on how these terms relate to the current crisis. My big problem is that we keep hearing about deflation and how it is debilitating, but our “consumer deflation” right now is 100% tied to the decline in energy costs.

Also, there is a difference between consumer prices and core prices. Consumer prices are a basket of products, while core prices are that same basket, minus food and energy costs, which are excluded because they are volatile.

Today, it was reported how consumer prices dropped by the most in decades, but core prices remained flat.

]]> Comment on DO YOU NEED A FINANCIAL PLANNER? by investmentmatch http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/do-you-need-a-financial-planner/#comment-281 investmentmatch Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:46:56 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-281 My company matches individuals to financial advisors and we are seeing a lot of interest right now due to the financial crisis. At our website - claroconnect.com - individuals can find the right financial advisor for them, whether they are looking for someone who specializes in business owners, retirement planning, divorced women and hundreds of other specialties. My company matches individuals to financial advisors and we are seeing a lot of interest right now due to the financial crisis. At our website – claroconnect.com – individuals can find the right financial advisor for them, whether they are looking for someone who specializes in business owners, retirement planning, divorced women and hundreds of other specialties.

]]> Comment on THE NEXT STEP IN THE RESCUE by sandysays1 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/the-next-step-in-the-rescue/#comment-231 sandysays1 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:58:46 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/?p=175#comment-231 There is no guarantee or provision in the bailout to force the firms to use the funds they receive to extend credit to the US economy! So all that happens is the folks who caused this mess get back to business as usual. Fox News won’t cover this subject. Ask them why at: yourcomments@foxnews.com We have to defeat this disastrous legislation. Check my site SandySays1.wordpress.com for some tools to fight it. There is no guarantee or provision in the bailout to force the firms to use the funds they receive to extend credit to the US economy! So all that happens is the folks who caused this mess get back to business as usual. Fox News won’t cover this subject. Ask them why at: yourcomments@foxnews.com We have to defeat this disastrous legislation. Check my site SandySays1.wordpress.com
for some tools to fight it.

]]> Comment on ARE WOMEN SAVING AND INVESTING ENOUGH? by retirementwithaplan http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/are-women-saving-and-investing-enough/#comment-230 retirementwithaplan Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:19:12 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/?p=139#comment-230 Sad but true yet there is hope. Women will work less, suffer from financial set-backs in greater numbers and feel the negative effects of divorce but they can do three things to help with this issue. Increase your retirement contribution while you are working. To do this, pick a fund or group of funds that allow you to stay in the equity markets longer. Although I don't always agree with how target-dated funds invest, I think you can use them to a better advantage than they were intended. If you have a retirement horizon that is twenty-years out, choose a target-dated fund that is targeted at forty-years. (A target dated fund simply re-allocates your investment from riskier to less risky as time goes by. They were recommended by the administration as a way for un-enrolled employees to get in the game instead of using a default money market fund or worse, nothing at all.) Second thing is to plan to work - but doing something else. Work, believe it or not can actually be healthier than no work. BUt look for something you would like to do rather than something you are currently doing. Third: Make sure your retirement plan does not plan for too quick of a withdrawal of funds. Focus on about 4%. Can you live on that? Most folks draw too much too soon and run out of money. Plan on using less and living longer (and, if there was a fourth suggestion, it would be to take care of your health now rather than later.) Hope this helps, Paul Petillo Managing Editor/BlueCollarDollar.com http://bluecollardollar.com Sad but true yet there is hope.

Women will work less, suffer from financial set-backs in greater numbers and feel the negative effects of divorce but they can do three things to help with this issue.

Increase your retirement contribution while you are working. To do this, pick a fund or group of funds that allow you to stay in the equity markets longer. Although I don’t always agree with how target-dated funds invest, I think you can use them to a better advantage than they were intended. If you have a retirement horizon that is twenty-years out, choose a target-dated fund that is targeted at forty-years. (A target dated fund simply re-allocates your investment from riskier to less risky as time goes by. They were recommended by the administration as a way for un-enrolled employees to get in the game instead of using a default money market fund or worse, nothing at all.)

Second thing is to plan to work – but doing something else. Work, believe it or not can actually be healthier than no work. BUt look for something you would like to do rather than something you are currently doing.

Third: Make sure your retirement plan does not plan for too quick of a withdrawal of funds. Focus on about 4%. Can you live on that? Most folks draw too much too soon and run out of money. Plan on using less and living longer (and, if there was a fourth suggestion, it would be to take care of your health now rather than later.)

Hope this helps,

Paul Petillo
Managing Editor/BlueCollarDollar.com
http://bluecollardollar.com

]]> Comment on COMMON FINANCIAL MISTAKES by fnunez http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/common-financial-mistakes/#comment-224 fnunez Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:30:56 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/common-financial-mistakes/#comment-224 I love your article. You will not believe how many people lack financial common sense, leading to enormous debt that Americans have accumulated over the years. Things need to change before this country sinks deeper into debt. I love your article. You will not believe how many people lack financial common sense, leading to enormous debt that Americans have accumulated over the years. Things need to change before this country sinks deeper into debt.

]]> Comment on THE ROAD TO COLLEGE by Kate http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/the-road-to-college/#comment-217 Kate Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:31:48 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/the-road-to-college/#comment-217 Thanks for the great tips. A good resource to check out is the Campus Detective from Tuition Bids. You can search any school in America to find out about the school's costs, majors offered, entry requirements and more! It is especially helpful when you are trying to figure out your finances. Find it here: http://www.tuitionbids.com/student-loan-tools-and-advice/college-information-directory3.aspx I hope this helps and thanks again for the great article. -Kate, Tuition Bids Thanks for the great tips. A good resource to check out is the Campus Detective from Tuition Bids. You can search any school in America to find out about the school’s costs, majors offered, entry requirements and more! It is especially helpful when you are trying to figure out your finances. Find it here: http://www.tuitionbids.com/student-loan-tools-and-advice/college-information-directory3.aspx

I hope this helps and thanks again for the great article.

-Kate, Tuition Bids

]]> Comment on THE ROAD TO COLLEGE by Sanja http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/the-road-to-college/#comment-215 Sanja Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:18:12 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/the-road-to-college/#comment-215 There are other ways to save too (coming from experience). When I looked at the cost for a state school, I was shocked. However, the estimates they give are rediculous. My main point is, students and parents can come to an agreement on some things in order to reduce costs. What my parents and I did was instead of living in a dorm, finding an apartment that was close to campus and full of college students. That change alone saved a good $3000+. That's a whole another term you can pay for! And I have never regreted not living in a dorm because I got the same experience through my apartments, which was 100% college students! There are other ways to save too (coming from experience). When I looked at the cost for a state school, I was shocked. However, the estimates they give are rediculous. My main point is, students and parents can come to an agreement on some things in order to reduce costs. What my parents and I did was instead of living in a dorm, finding an apartment that was close to campus and full of college students. That change alone saved a good $3000+. That’s a whole another term you can pay for! And I have never regreted not living in a dorm because I got the same experience through my apartments, which was 100% college students!

]]> Comment on DO YOU HAVE: THE RIGHT BENEFICIARY? by berchta http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/do-you-have-the-right-beneficiary/#comment-214 berchta Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:19:13 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/do-you-have-the-right-beneficiary/#comment-214 It is such a great article. Had fun reading it. For those who are new to the idea of IRA it is an investing tool used by individuals to earn and earmark funds for retirement savings. There are several types of IRAs: Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and SEP IRAs. You can find out more about IRA at http://www.rollover-ira.info which was of great help when I was looking for a retirement arrangement. It is such a great article. Had fun reading it. For those who are new to the idea of IRA it is an investing tool used by individuals to earn and earmark funds for retirement savings. There are several types of IRAs: Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and SEP IRAs. You can find out more about IRA at http://www.rollover-ira.info which was of great help when I was looking for a retirement arrangement.

]]> Comment on 6 STEPS TO GET OUT OF DEBT by Evelyn Guzman http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/6-steps-to-get-out-of-debt/#comment-212 Evelyn Guzman Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:01:20 +0000 http://wealthstrong.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/6-steps-to-get-out-of-debt/#comment-212 I like the positive moves and the six steps which if followed to the letter will help one get out of debt. And the real goal is right there for them to keep motivated in following the six steps. In addition, the steps are very realistic and so can easily be followed. Evelyn Guzman <a href="http://www.debtchallenges.com" rel="nofollow">Debt Challenger</a> I like the positive moves and the six steps which if followed to the letter will help one get out of debt. And the real goal is right there for them to keep motivated in following the six steps. In addition, the steps are very realistic and so can easily be followed.

Evelyn Guzman
Debt Challenger

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